Ever since 2007, teenagers from around the world are succumbing to this addiction. No, they are not addicted to drugs or alcohol, rather an unexpected, but destructive culprit: smartphones. The first iPhone was released in 2007. Since then, teenagers have been displaying greater signs of loneliness, depression, and incompetence.

As studied by Jean M. Twenge, a psychology professor at SDSU and author of Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation, technology provides momentary happiness, but chronic side effects to teen users’ health. It is important to rehabilitate the well-being of today’s youth because teens are the future leaders of society. Their well-being consists of not just taking care of their physical selves, but their emotional states as well.

Technology causes teenagers to be more isolated than previous generations because smartphones replace traditional ways of socializing.

In a study conducted by Twenge, she found the number of teens who frequently met with their friends decreased by 40 percent from 2000 to 2015. Teenagers from past generations were more inclined to attend parties, ask others on dates, and obtain their driver's licenses early on.

However, iGen teens choose to stay indoors rather than talk in-person because their attention is directed towards their smartphones. Smartphones offer unlimited access to social media, websites, and videos that teens can access to within the confines of their bedrooms.

Teenagers can now text their friends instead of going through the hassle of getting up and driving to their friend’s house. Since digital conversations require less effort from both parties, teens prefer it as their method of maintaining friendships.

Teens who are consumed by their technology are in danger of neglecting critical news and activities occurring in the real world. They become disconnected from the people they are living with and ignorant of the events surrounding them. This leads to a downward spiral of teenagers becoming narrow-minded and self-centered.

While teens do interact with their friends via text, their relationships barely penetrate a surface level. Being removed from technology and surrounded by friends creates a sense of unity and belonging. Teens develop fond memories and share the struggles of growing up by being in each other’s company.

Mobile messaging apps such as iMessage, WeChat, and Gmail mask teenagers’ true thoughts and intentions. Sarcasm or sadness can be concealed and misinterpreted through the many layers of typos, punctuations, and absent verbal cues.

Electronics eliminate the nuances of physical conversations such as tone, attitude, and gestures.

For the time being, smartphones offer an amenity for teens who want to communicate with people remotely. But in the long run, teenagers lose out on social skills that are essential to their professional development. Teens cannot master nonverbal skills such as maintaining eye-contact or having a proper posture if they do not make a habit of in-person communication.

It is easier to observe someone’s emotions through their facial expression and body language than through transmitted messages. Technology consequently inhibits a teenager’s grasp on emotional intelligence which is necessary for dealing with future colleagues and employers. For instance, a teenager who checks their phones while in the middle of a conversation can be seen as disrespectful for the person they are talking to.

Besides being oblivious and alone, teenagers who frequently check their phones are more at risk for depression. Twenge’s study concluded that teens who spend more than the average time on electronics are “35 percent more likely to have a risk factor for suicide.”

As more social media apps enter the market in recent years, a 48 percent increase of girls reported feeling left out in 2015 as compared to 2010. This is because social media sites such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook allow teenagers to brag about the events they attended and achievements they obtained. Since teenagers are constantly on their phones, the ones who were not invited or less accomplished will feel excluded.

Every beep, ring, and buzz cause teenagers to be anxious and disrupted.

As of today, teenagers still immerse themselves in their technology instead of spending time with other people. But like with most epidemics, their addiction to smartphones can be cured. Teenagers must fix their bad habits of relying on technology for temporary solutions and fulfillment to prevent complete dependency. Apps and robots cannot provide the affection teenagers have been devoid of to mature into mindful adults. During the few times, teenagers do see each other, they must give their undivided attention to the people in the room.

If today’s youth are going to lead the world, they must prioritize human life over the battery life of their smartphones.